Let’s try a less controversial bit of advice that every work-at-home mom should take to heart: your home office is your work temple; treat it like one!
You probably haven’t made it this far through life (hey, age is just a number!) without finding yourself on the receiving end of this particular kernel of wisdom: “your body is a temple; treat it like one.”
Let’s try a less controversial bit of advice that every work-at-home mom should take to heart: your home office is your work temple; treat it like one!
If you work full-time from home, you spend more time in your home office than you do in your own bed, at least on weekdays. Why wouldn’t you want your office to be as comfortable and productive as possible?
Here’s what you need to do to fall (and stay) in love with your 15-foot commute.
Get a Desk You Don’t Mind Lingering Over
First, your office’s centerpiece. Now might be the time to embrace stand-at-work revolution and outfit your home office with one of the best standing desks on the market. If you’re quite ready to take that plunge, at least get a desk with plenty of drawer space and surface area to minimize day-to-day clutter. Make sure whatever desk you do procure fits with your favorite office chair, and that any standing workstation adjusts to seated height.
Keep It Clean
You make your kids clean their rooms, don’t you? Lead by example and carve out a few minutes each week to give your home office a once-over. Pick up a compact handheld vacuum for hard-to-reach corners; it’ll change your life (and quell your dust allergies).
Don’t Just Clean Around the Clutter
Superficial cleaning only goes so far. Supplement your weekly once-over with periodic decluttering sessions that rid your office of the detritus of 21st-century work. Implement a sensible organization system to minimize clutter moving forward, complete with an alphabetized filing scheme and stacked storage for essential records that you don’t need to access every week.
Invest in a Reliable Multi-Use Printer
Even if you’re not running a printing shop, you probably need a print-copy-scan device to get through the week. Check out the latest all-in-one printers for affordable ideas. Remember, you don’t need anything fancy — just something reliable enough not to jam up or break down every time you try to use it.
Keep Distractions to a (Bare) Minimum
Limit distractions in your home office. Yes, that means removing the TV, kicking out pets, and implementing a strict “no kids during working hours” policy. Your future, more productive doppelganger will thank your present, less productive self.
Squeeze Out Unproductive Functions (or Physically Remove Your Home Office from Your Main Living Area)
It’s not just the distractions. If you’re using your home office for non-work functions, such as clothing storage or anything related to after-hours pursuits, relocate them or your office. If you have room, consider relocating your workspace to a physically separate area, like the room above the garage or a walled-off area of your finished basement.
Dress for Success
Last, but not least: dress every day like you’re heading into the “real” office. You don’t have to spend a fortune on professional clothing, but you should wear something you wouldn’t mind colleagues or clients seeing on you.
What’s Your Work-at-Home Secret?
Experienced at-home workers have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves. As a seasoned mompreneur, you no doubt know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to working at home. Don’t be shy about sharing what you’ve learned (and what you think you know) with aspiring work-at-home moms. Inquiring minds want to know!
